A statement from the panel of media professionals who choose the RTS TV Journalism award winners said:

"Jury members thought the winner was a sensation without ever being sensationalist. They felt an investigative challenge which had defeated other media organisations over decades had been achieved with commitment, skill and sensitivity.

"The programme-makers had given a voice to victims who had always been denied one, with unprecedented impact across many British institutions."

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ITV's overall coverage of the Savile scandal as a whole was also rewarded, with its news content provider ITN picking up the News Coverage – Home award.

The BBC and Channel 4 won six awards each at the ceremony in central London last night. The BBC's awards included the News Coverage – International prize for its coverage of the Syrian civil war, while the Channel 4 News won Daily News Programme of the Year, and its anchor, Jon Snow, took home National Presenter of the Year.

Richard Tait, a former editor of ITN, Newsnight and Channel 4 News, won the lifetime achievement award.

Educational charity the RTS was founded in 1927 as the Television Society, and was granted its Royal title in 1966 by the Prince of Wales.

The RTS Television Journalism Awards were founded in 1978 to "recognise creative and excellent journalism by organisations whose broadcasts are received in the UK and by the agencies which supply UK news broadcasters".